Role & capabilities
- Autonomous maritime reconnaissance
- Acoustic data collection
- Seabed mine detection
- Primary domain
- Underwater
- System type
- Autonomous underwater vehicle
- Developer / manufacturer
- Israel Aerospace Industries / ELTA; TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK integration
- Origin / production countries
- Israel / Germany
- Other names
- ELI-3325; Blue Whale
- Variants / configurations
- Named configuration; see the evidence and specification notes
- Operators / programme customers
- German Navy — delivered February 2026
Evidence & current status
Status records a documented customer handover and trials, not a blanket statement of full operational readiness. Brochure maxima describe the product configuration and are not automatically the delivered German fit.
BlueWhale is a large autonomous underwater vehicle developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, with TKMS and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK integrating sonar for the German naval programme. It combines underwater sensing with surface-accessible observation and communications equipment. The advertised mission set includes maritime reconnaissance, acoustic information collection and mine detection, making it a mobile sensor platform rather than a generic remotely piloted submarine.
IAI reported trials with the German Navy in the Baltic Sea in 2024. A subsequent announcement documented a handover at Eckernförde on 25 February 2026, providing a specific delivery milestone. That does not establish fleet-wide deployment or completion of every planned network integration. The brochure describes a 10.9-metre vehicle and endurance varying from 10 to 30 days with mission and battery configuration. Normal and maximum speed are stated separately. Published sensor options should similarly be distinguished from the precise German delivered fit. This joint programme is attributed to Israel for vehicle development and Germany for the documented integration contribution.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Large autonomous underwater vehicle | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Hull / propulsion | Battery-electric | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | 10.9 m long; 1.12 m diameter | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Displacement / mass | 5.5 tonnes | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Payload | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | 10–30 days | Brochure range depends on mission and battery configuration. Source ↗ |
| Range | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Speed | Typical 2–3 knots; maximum 7 knots submerged | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Operating depth | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Mission-dependent sonar, radar, electro-optical and other sensing equipment | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / control | Autonomous control; satellite communications when suitable surface link is available | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Launch / deployment | Transportable in a 40-foot container; deployment equipment configuration dependent | Published specification for the cited configuration; payload, environment and speed affect performance. Source ↗ |
Documented milestones
German Navy handover
IAI and TKMS documented delivery at Eckernförde naval base; the release was published the following day.
Read the announcement ↗German trials reported
IAI described German Navy testing in the Baltic Sea.
Read the announcement ↗
Publication history
- — Added sourced land and maritime coverage with domain-specific evidence and limitations.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.